Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)

What is a CAFO?

An operation must first be defined as an Animal Feeding Operation (AFO)
before it can be considered a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO).
AFOs are agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined
situations.

EPA defines an AFO as a lot or facility (other than an aquatic animal
production facility) where the following conditions are met:

Animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed
or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period,
and

Crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post-harvest residues are not
sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot
or facility.

AFOs generally congregate animals, feed, manure, dead animals,
and production operations on a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals
rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures. Whether
or not an AFO is a CAFO depends primarily on the number of animals confined.
For a brief summary of how the regulations define Large, Medium, and Small
CAFOs, click [here]. CAFO's are point
sources, as defined by the Clean Water Act.